Education

High School Senior’s Provocative Photo Rejected From Yearbook

High School Senior Sydney Spies Provocative Photo Rejected From Durango High School Yearbook

High school senior Sydney Spies' photo was rejected by the yearbook staff at Durango High School in Colorado. (Image source: Durango Herald)

A Colorado high school senior‘s yearbook photo won’t be running next to the rest of her classmates’ portraits because the student yearbook staff found it too inappropriate, the Durango Herald reported.

18-year-old Sydney Spies submitted a photo of herself dressed in a short yellow skirt and black midriff and shoulder-baring top to run in the Durango High School yearbook. Her photo was rejected by the staff, who said they didn’t want to negatively impact the quality of their yearbook by running something unprofessional.

Spies said school administrators initially told her the photo couldn‘t run because it violated the school’s dress code, requiring tops “fully cover the chest, back, abdomen and sides of the student.” She launched a protest Wednesday, waving signs in front of the high school and saying her First Amendment rights had been violated.

“It’s a little different from everyone else’s picture,” Spies acknowledged to the Herald. “I feel like they aren’t allowing me to have my freedom of expression.”

But the yearbook‘s student editors said Thursday that decision to yank the photo wasn’t the administration’s call, but theirs.

“The administration really had nothing to do with it,” Tevan Trujillo, a student yearbook editor, told the newspaper. “It was us.”

They also said they didn’t pull the photo because of the dress code.

“We are an award-winning yearbook,” Brian Jaramillo said. “We don’t want to diminish the quality with something that can be seen as unprofessional.”

Instead, the photo can run in a section reserved for paid senior advertisements in the back of the yearbook, usually featuring “shout-outs” from family and friends.

High School Senior Sydney Spies Provocative Photo Rejected From Durango High School Yearbook

Spies protested the photo's rejection in front of her school Wednesday. (Image source: Durango Herald)

Durango High School principal Diane Lashinsky told the newspaper she was aware of the student editors’ decision not to print the picture, and said she supported them.

Spies, who had plans to speak to a lawyer about the case before it emerged that it was the editors’ call, said she feels betrayed by her fellow students.

“The editors all turned their backs on me and changed their minds,” she said. “I really do feel like they were intimidated by the principal.”

Yearbook adviser Tammy Schreiner told the Herald the decision not to run the photo was the students’ alone.

“I can tell the kids all of the things that will happen if they run it and all of the things that will happen if we don’t run it,” she said. “But I know that if I personally pulled it, I would be as guilty of censorship as anyone else.”

According to the Herald, the yearbook staff made a similar call two years ago when it opted not to run the photo of a male student posing bare-chested.

Comments (336)

  • Dougral Supports Israel
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:06pm

    She has the right to create her own yearbook, fund it herself, and put whatever photos in it she wishes. She has no right to impose her standards or lack of them on the yearbook staff or school.

     
    • Machtyn
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:47pm

      @KY Patriot: From another KY-ian, I salute you. Good on the school for trying to keep the year book classy. If she wants to pimp herself out… do it for the trade mags.

      Report Post »  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:51pm

      Can you say “contrived controversy”??? She knew from day one, that the photo was inappropriate and would be rejected, but she submitted it anyways. Free publicity, possible civil suit to make a bit of fast cash, trashy show on the TLC network, up to the front of the line of applications at Hooters, etc.. Well, Mom should be proud, because whatever happens, she is already a successful media hoe.

      Report Post » TXPilot  
    • Shiroi Raion
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 6:18pm

      I visited Durango once. It was an unbelievable experience. That place is seriously messed up. Passing through while driving home from a wedding, my friend said she knew someone that would let us stay for the night. While I was there, some college age kids let us stay (though I doubt any of them went to college). There must have been over 100 kids – and I mean it when I say kids… not just college kids, but some as young as 12 to15 judging from their appearance – in that little house and kids were walking into the bathroom to see other kids having sex – and the bathroom was busy the entire time. I believe every one of them was on drugs, though I never saw anyone actually using them, and they partied from mid-afternoon until about 3 am. Worse yet, there were adult males mingling with the children for purposes that I believe were nefarious.
      After that experience in Durango, I told my friend that I never wanted to see her again… and I never did. I’m glad I saw this story. I have been trying to remember the name of that messed up little Colorado town.
      This photo is something I would expect from them. Things are far worse there than just this.
      I’m not sure that you can call this a Liberal town though. I don’t think a single person I met there had two brain cells to rub together. They can’t care about politics; they don’t even care about their own kids.

      Report Post » Shiroi Raion  
    • last frontier
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 6:19pm

      Looks like she going up the stairs to the Brothel she will end up working at.

      Report Post » last frontier  
    • What_Did_I_Miss
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 6:24pm

      She may have been shooting for a pole dancing scholarship.
      They may have trashed her exciting future.

      Report Post »  
    • Kaoscontrol
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 6:31pm

      Is that Jan Brady on the Brady Bunch staircase? Wait till Mike get‘s home and see’s what she’s wearing!

      Report Post » Kaoscontrol  
    • Christhefarmer
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 7:03pm

      Bleh…… While this type of girl entertained me in my younger years, as I grown older I have really come to hate them. It’s near impossible to find a female with a brain, let alone one that doesn’t want to have sex with you on the first date. I hate this culture….

      Report Post »  
    • 1me2ao
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 7:43pm

      shes 18

      Report Post »  
    • Kaoscontrol
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 8:42pm

      Would it still be considered ‘Freedom of expression” if she were completely naked?

      Report Post » Kaoscontrol  
    • godhatesacoward
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 8:44pm

      @me- She is still in public school.

      Report Post » godhatesacoward  
    • little big man
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 8:51pm

      She’s hot and legal.

      Report Post » little big man  
    • AOL_REFUGEE
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:06pm

      This is a loser who is in love with herself.

      Report Post » AOL_REFUGEE  
    • maccow
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 12:21am

      The girl does have one great claim to fame.
      She got EVERYBODY on this site to agree that she’s an idiot.
      Never before seen, stupendous colossal achievement.
      Way to go Blondie.

      Report Post » maccow  
    • lwnmwrmn
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 12:43am

      Ho ho ho

      Report Post » lwnmwrmn  
    • MeteoricLimbo
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 1:00am

      A student of Madonna..Drama Mama

      Report Post » MeteoricLimbo  
    • SekndAmendment
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 3:13am

      She’ll find a successful career in porn. That’s where girls with Daddy issues end up “expressing” themselves through provocative photography. If she were my daughter she’d never have been allowed to dress like that…let alone take pictures of it, submit to them to the yearbook, stage a protest of their rejection, and make plans to meet with lawyers. She’s a tramp.

      Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 7:31am

      Her parents must be so proud! “Our little girl is a slut honey!”

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Jomil48
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 8:13am

      Her dad needs to put a boot up that posterior for posing that way, or someone needs to put a boot up the dad’s hinder parts for letting his daughter be so loose. But I would bet there is no dad in that family.

      Report Post »  
    • BLACKDIAMONDSKIER
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 8:25am

      If only I could raise my daughter to be like you. Ohh how I long for the day when my little girl grows up to be 18 just like you. The way you stand on that staircase with such honor and dignity. Then to stand so firm for your rights to freedom of speech. Who you have become is what everyone’s daughter should aspire to be. Don’t worry about your classmates rejecting the pic or the nation mocking it…..this is all about you girl. ALL ABOUT YOU!!! Classless, lacking dignity and honor. What a disgrace!! A picture says a thousand words doesn’t it.

      Report Post »  
    • Roberto G. Vasquez
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 8:51am

      KENTUCKYPATRIOT

      Speaking as a pro photographer, I think her photo is great!

      Report Post »  
    • Wolf
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:24am

      And I’m sure of you people saying she looks like a tramp and has no morals all go to the beach and oogle the teenie boppers in their bikinis.
      If that’s the ppicture she wants to be remembered by, it’s her choice and the yearbook can run it. Especially considering the school and students can’t get their stories together.

      Report Post »  
    • 1proudAmerican
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:29am

      @ TXPILOT I think you got it right. She‘s probably trying to get Playboy’s attention because she has nothing else to go on after graduation.

      Report Post »  
    • rockstone
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:01am

      @ jomil

      Maybe daddy did already!

      Report Post » rockstone  
    • Survivor101
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:16am

      Great link to start addressing things like this….Cosmo at the check out line –
      http://www.change.org/petitions/protect-young-girls-get-cosmopolitan-sold-in-a-non-transparent-wrapper

      Report Post »  
    • EyebrowsLaMana
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:25am

      Well put, well put. You’re absolutely right. She can fun her own yearbook fill it with trampy looking pictures of herself and wait for hustler to call.

      Report Post » EyebrowsLaMana  
    • Armed Patriot
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:35am

      She’s a hot little ho, fo sho. The pic she submitted looks like the cover of a porn flick.

      Come see Sydney Spies in High School Confidential. Watch as her principle takes her on the stair case, only to be caught by his spying secretary, who eventually joins them for some raunchy fun.

      Report Post » Armed Patriot  
    • Cat
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:54am

      Three other babes instantly came to mind when seeing this babe’s photo:

      Bree Daniels
      Charlotte Stokley
      Lexi Belle

      They have one thing in common with Sydney Spies …

      Report Post » Cat  
    • VigilantGuardShark
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:56am

      Future Porn Starlet

      Report Post »  
    • oneshiner
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 11:24am

      We all know what sluts look like. We all know that photo’s like this would never get in a year book.
      I think this little gal exhibits balz and has abnormal confidence for a high schooler. Her ambition is to get a job pole dancing so she can take it all off.
      Reminds me of “Good Time Charlies” in Soldotna, Alaska where the gals catch dollar bills with their crack while dancing. Who’d want that one eye looking at them? When someone pays for a lap dance, that gal gets out of the dance pen and dry hump some jerk.

      Some girls and women seem to have no shame about what they’ll exhibit for all to see. No wonder our little girls are wanting lipo and surgery at such a young age. They think it’s “to die for” cool.

      Report Post »  
    • SgtB
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 11:27am

      Completely agree. She has the right to free speech, but not to force her “speech” be used by anyone else or on anyone else’s property. She can go be a hoe at her own house or in public whenever she wants. But she has not right to force others to put it in a book.

      Report Post » SgtB  
    • johnannegalt
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 12:04pm

      Exactly. If she’s still in school, she can’t force them to use her pictures.. she can always go make her own yearbook.

      She does look a little skanky, just saying.. Does she intentionally want her classmates to remember her for forever as that one trampy girl? lol

      Report Post » johnannegalt  
    • kennyg933
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 1:47pm

      The world needs bimbo prostitutes too. I vote her Most Likely to be Famous for Being a Whore. I mean really, more power to her! In this society, where women get rich and famous for being pretty sluts, I say, ‘go on and get your money, honey!‘ I don’t watch any of the media circus that surrounds this phenomena, but if I was her, I’d show my ass and laugh all the way to the bank.

      Report Post »  
    • Ready2Rumble
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 5:32pm

      I wonder if she’s pole dancer? Given her “ho” attire, it wouldn’t surprise me. BTW, here is another case of non-effective parents….

      Report Post » Ready2Rumble  
    • Luke611
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 8:59pm

      Well, ok, Son, I’m glad she can lick here eyebrawls….but can she cook?

      Report Post »  
    • Cat
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:45pm

      Funny one Luke611
      Once knew a girl who cooked gator and possum like surf and turf, complete with home made Béarnaise sauce and sweet mashed potatoes with cinnamon & raisins
      She had a 38D-24-36 body, and stood 5’-6” barefoot
      She could also rebuild a carburetor and suck the chrome off a tailpipe
      Unfortunately she didn’t know her left from her right, nor hygiene essentials …

      Report Post » Cat  
    • yHate
      Posted on January 8, 2012 at 2:30am

      She’s hot.

      Report Post » yHate  
    • caveman74
      Posted on January 8, 2012 at 9:47am

      shiroi, you will find that same party scene you were describing in any town or city in almost any country in the US, and you will find misguided little girls like this in just as many places. The big question is why on earth did you not tell your friend it was time to keep driving when you realized your friend wanted you to crash at an underaged party for the night?

      Report Post »  
    • AgentP
      Posted on January 8, 2012 at 10:56am

      mom must be so proud, that photo has probably generated several offers to be a porn star! I’m actually expecting a follow-up story about this being a shameless self-promotion of her new films.

      Report Post » AgentP  
    • hazmat_factor
      Posted on January 8, 2012 at 4:54pm

      Reminds me of a joke (she may be intamately familiar with), Red neck foreplay: Psst, you up sis?

      Report Post » hazmat_factor  
    • Yeah_Buddy
      Posted on January 9, 2012 at 2:00pm

      They should have just cropped the picture to include a head shot, then sent the rest to Heff. Probably make more $ than going the traditional college route anyway.

      Report Post »  
    • dogma
      Posted on January 9, 2012 at 6:53pm

      Saw a interview Mom’s a tramp too

      Report Post »  
  • geomann
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:06pm

    Voted most likely to end up married to Hugh Heffner…

    Report Post »  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:15pm

      Damn, that is a little suggestive…. Only because i know what my first thought was….. ; )))…..

      Report Post »  
  • MrsK
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:06pm

    Hugh Hef has probably already called her. He’s looking for a few good blondes.

    Report Post »  
  • Canada_Goose
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:06pm

    Good luck to Mr. and Mrs. Spies in keeping young Sydney off the pole.

    Report Post » Canada_Goose  
  • Stone Cold Truth
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:04pm

    They did her a favor. She’s pretty, but that photo is ridiculous for an annual yearbook. lol at glamour shots.

    Report Post » Stone Cold Truth  
  • billrow
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:04pm

    She’s a spoiled brat with loose morals.

    If she placed her pic the paid insert section of the yearbook as they offered, it would be under escorts.

    Report Post »  
    • shorthanded12
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:58pm

      Lmao, love the Friday nite humor after this hard working tax paying American can sit down and relax.

      Report Post »  
    • Kaoscontrol
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 6:21pm

      She could probably pay a little more and get the centerfold spread.

      Report Post » Kaoscontrol  
  • SemySweet
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:03pm

    …betcha she gets voted por- I mean – prom queen.

    Report Post » SemySweet  
  • Kensiesfate
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:02pm

    They are doing her a favor for the future in the event her morals catch up with her narcissism.

    Report Post » Kensiesfate  
  • ADNIL
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:02pm

    Poor thing, probably doesn’t get enough (of the right kind of) attention.

    Report Post »  
  • sillyfreshness
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:59pm

    “It’s all about me” says this little diva…..

    Report Post » sillyfreshness  
    • NOBAMA201258
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:05pm

      being a little too kind calling her a “diva”

      Report Post »  
    • GUNNSUP
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 11:32am

      Irresponsible parenting is the problem with kids like her and so many others. For her to glorify “HO-NESS” she must have big aspirations for herself. The next big porno queen. Her name is perfect….Sydney Spies takes on the “Colorado Rockies’…..

      Report Post » GUNNSUP  
  • Locked
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:59pm

    Cute girl, but ultimately up to the year book staff. In my senior year book several photos were rejected for similar reasons. One girl had a shirt that clearly displayed how cold it was when the picture was taken; another had some swearing on her shirt. Most of them had the chance to submit a new picture; the others could have pictures in school. Some just never submitted a picture; I feel worst for those people, as I don’t remember what they look like now.

    I suppose being forgotten is better being remembered as a floozy?

    Report Post »  
    • liberalescheisskopf
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:14pm

      She had a thermometer on her shirt????

      Report Post » liberalescheisskopf  
    • sallyskull
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 9:38am

      I guess I’m missing something here… don’t the schools hire professional photographers on a “picture day” where the students get a few minutes off from class to go line up and get a portrait taken for the yearbook anymore?

      Report Post »  
  • elosogrande
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:58pm

    The school should be embarrassed. Not because of the photo, but because an idiot like this bimbo was graduated.

    Report Post »  
  • clockwatcher
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:58pm

    Will she be working at the Mustang ranch after high school? Nobody to blame but the parent. I am sure she has a “mom” who wants to be her “best friend” rather than her parent. Sad very sad.

    Report Post » clockwatcher  
  • Thighmaster
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:57pm

    She should have worn her bikini, now that would have passed…

    Report Post » Thighmaster  
    • JimmyP
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:34pm

      Thigh Master Moron,

      Did’ja get the gist of the article and comments? People with morals and sesibility are rejecting the efforts of a large percent of the population to desesitize the masses to inappropraite pictures, speech and behaviors. HELLO? ANYBODY HOME?

      Report Post » JimmyP  
    • Kaoscontrol
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 6:27pm

      Don’t drink and type JIMMYP…. you lose all credibility calling others ‘Moron” when your own typos are so rampant.

      Report Post » Kaoscontrol  
  • SenorStrange
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:56pm

    It was the right call. She can launch her porn career in some other publication.

    Report Post »  
  • RavenGlenn
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:56pm

    Honestly, she‘s 18 and she can look however she’d like. But, the key here…is that she doesn’t HAVE first amendment rights in SCHOOL.

    Report Post »  
    • shorthanded12
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:56pm

      hmmm I will dispute that comment if your gay, minority (selected races) or an iLLeagal than Barrys DOJ will defend your 1st admendment, the rest of ya can go to the back of the bus, couresty of Gubment Education

      Report Post »  
    • GeorgieBaby
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 8:41pm

      Actually you are wrong. I was listening to two lawyers debate this photo and free speech on the radio on the way home last night here in Colorado. A high school yearbook is protected under the first ammendment, and is treated the same way as a regular publication. What was not known yesterday was that it was the student editors who made the decision and not the school’s administration. The way the story was portrayed yesterday was that it was the school’s administration that had yanked the photo, and that it had trampled all over the student’s first ammendment rights.

      The crazy thing was that the conservative “values” lawyer was holding up the position of the student taking the first ammendment position (assuming it was the school’s administrative decision), and the more liberal lawyer was the one calling the photo inappropriate. This “values” lawyer didn’t feel that the photo was provocative, and that it looked like a promotional poster for the musical “Grease.” He adamantly stated that her scarf top was not a scarf, and that the skirt and the pose was not short, nor was it provocative. The liberal lawyer and all of the callers completely disagreed with the “values” lawyer repeatedly. When I returned home, I looked at the photo online. The photo is soft porn.

      Report Post »  
    • RavenGlenn
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 12:42am

      If it is protected under freedom of speech rights, I would be very surprised. People do not have their normal rights when in attending a school. If you had freedom of speech in a school, then children could basically do and say whatever they like, thus disrupting the actual process of learning.

      But, since it is a yearbook, that might be the case. Even then, since her attire is against school policy, they’d be completely within their rights to refuse the photo.

      Of course, the students in charge were the ones that did, so she doesn’t have a leg to stand on either way.

      Report Post »  
    • MS Patriot
      Posted on January 8, 2012 at 6:13pm

      If it violates the school dress code and dress codes are enforceable then the school or the editor’s had the right to pull the picture from the year book.

      Report Post »  
  • umreb78
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:56pm

    Poor, poor dear. I applaud the students on the Yearbook Committee for having the courage to protect the integrity of the once in a lifetime yearbook that I know they spent a great deal of time and energy in creating. My wife was her yearbook editor and I’m hapy to see that 30 years later there are still some high schoolers who take that responsibility seriously. KUDOS to them for not running poor Sydney’s slutty looking egocentric photo. Since I do not know this girl it would be unfair for me to judge her morality, but running this photo, much like the planned individual touchdown dances we see in the NFL, this (the Yearbook) is not about sleazy Sydney…it is about the senior class…as in a whole class. There are hundreds, if not thousands of amateur porn sites all over the place and Sydney should look into submissions to them to further her “career” as a “model”. GOOD FOR YOU YEARBOOK STAFF.

    Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:54pm

    I’ll take 10 color prints!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • Dahart
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:53pm

    Where is this girls parents?

    Report Post » Dahart  
    • Locked
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:55pm

      “Spies, her mother and several other girls protested the decision in front of the high school Wednesday afternoon.”

      Helping her protest, apparently.

      Report Post »  
    • Lucy Larue
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 8:57am

      DAHART,

      Geez! Scroll back up and click on the link that BIOHAZARD provided. It speaks volumes about this teenager.

      BTW..,merci ARANA1952 and BIOHAZARD23. Some of us really do read the full article and posts before we comment.

      Report Post »  
  • Robert-CA
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:52pm

    is that a year book photo or she’s casting for XXXXXXXXXX ?

    Report Post » Robert-CA  
    • KenInIL
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:01pm

      Come on, with a name like Sydney they have to cut her some slack. I mean, how else are they going to remember that she’s a she with a name like Sydney?

      Report Post »  
    • Cavallo
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 6:49pm

      Sydney Spies does sound like a porn star or stripper name.

      Report Post » Cavallo  
  • Biddle
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:51pm

    Its time we fight for important issues such as these. Lets band togther for Sophie….I mean Sydney. She obviously has a bright future ahead of her. Her aspirations are a direct result of the glorious landscape we have manufactured with our greatness. Please join the protest for Sherry….I mean….Sydney. Thank you.

    Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:53pm

      And the sexualization of our children continues. Thank you liberalism for your morally bankrupt ideology.

      Report Post »  
  • addie
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:50pm

    Some people will stoop to any level for their 5 minutes of fame. This girl is no exception.

    Report Post »  
  • Abraham Young
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:48pm

    You don’t have any First Amendment rights in a collectively owned and regulated context. Get over yourself and express yourself where you DO have a right to. Public decency demands public regulation.

    Report Post »  
  • jungle J
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:48pm

    her mammy taught her everything she be knowing.

    Report Post »  
  • jungle J
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:47pm

    man..you gotta let da sluts express themselves..she be educated now.

    Report Post »  

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